I don't think Zs are very convenient cars, with or without an automatic, so I'm glad I got the 6spd. I don't think driving a manual is that bad in heavy traffic, and the "fun factor" more than makes up for it. The only problem with a manual is you can't eat, talk on a cell phone, or flip other drivers off as easily. But I figure that's stuff I shouldn't be doing when I drive anyway. So, I'm gonna have to say viva la 6spd!!

 

All you 6MT guys are right. I should be so ashamed of myself for buying such a great car in a 5AT. I'm going to march right into the Nissan dealership tomorrow with my head hung in shame and turn in my Z keys. For commiting such a sports car sin I should be banned from driving any car (even a Kia) and should be sentenced to walk everywhere for the rest of my life. I can't even look at myself in the mirror for commiting such an act Get a new life guys ! Because you're wasting the one you have now worrying about the small stupid things. And you think that I should be ashamed?

 

Last time I checked it wasn't your money they were spending.

 

It's my opinion not telling you what to do!!!

 

That was just my 2 cents, I have nothing against automatic drivers and I wasn't lookin to offend anyone.

 

I just purchased the 2005 6sp despite raving about the new 2005 auto.

Turns out the Auto is too different from the 03 & 04 model Auto. Why they included the rev-matching feature is anyones guess, but I am thinking now they probably added to reduce stress on the tranny from aggressive down shifts. I remmeber in my 03, I would down shift twice quickly by tapping down consecutively and sometimes the tires would chirp from the shift shock in slowing down.

Anyhow, I drove the 05 again one last time before making my decision and this time I drove it aggresively as I used to sometimes with my 03 and I came out in shock and total dismay!!!

While in gear 5, if I double tap I can go to gear 3 quickly as expected with the revematching nicely. However, double tapping from 4 to 2 is completely waste of time! No matter how many times I tried it (3 times just to make sure)...the car would revmatch to get gear 3, engage gear 3, then after say 1/2 sec...decide to go to gear 2, again revmatching for gear 2 and then engaging. The whole process took like 3-4 seconds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rediculous. I learned 6sp on my pre-order 2003, then switched to an auto (for many other reasons also after 8 months) and drove that for over a year and I tell you, I rather go to the 6sp before getting the 2005 auto any day.

 

Hmm, going from a 200ms shift to a 2 sec shift on the 05. Not my idea of an improvement.

Good info to know about the 2005 AT rev matching. Is it possible that the delay could be a programming error or maybe not enough drive time for the tranny to learn the drivers driving style? Is there a way to override the feature on the 05?

I didn't think that the rev matching feature would provide any performance gains. But, increasing shift time by more than 10x is too much to ask for smoother shifting in manual mode. In auto mode the transmission will already do the rev matching for you.

Anybody else have the same or different experience with the 05?

 

Actually, auto mode "D" and manual mode "1" - "5" perform differently. In manual mode (as per my 03, as I haven't had enough time in an 05 during my tests). When upshifting in the manual mode, the shifts sometimes are harsh and more aggressive engagement -- especially when accellerating hard. In Auto mode, the car wouldn't shift under those conditions unless it was reaching the rev-limiter, so with the manual mode you can shift from say 2nd to 3rd on hard acceleration around 4000rpm rather than waiting for the readline to approach. This shift would would feel agressive on the Manual mode to me.

IMO, the 05 Auto is only good for D or occasional downshifting in 1 gear increments -- and even when downshifting 1 gear, having driven an 03 auto for a year, I immediately noticed there was a natural delay simply to allow the rev-matching to finish -- a no no in my boat.

 

Ultimately count on a replacement clutch, throwout bearing, etc. as an extra charge with the manual. Over the long haul you pay for the thrill manually shifting.

 

Uh, for the people saying that "true" sports cars are only manuals are forgetting that Ferrari has a paddle shifters in their higher end cars. What do you think that manumatic mode basically is?

 

A wise man once said: "Driving a sports car with an automatic is like f---ing through a glove" Nuff said!

 

Which wise man said this?! Unless you can provide a quote reference from an authority on sports cars your quote is just as wortless as the stuff that comes out of your a$$. I might consider you an authority if you can prove you like f---ing through a glove and you really can compare it to driving an automatic. If the latter is true you really need some help.


In the Z, MT or AT is just a preference. If you like the MT, that's fine, just say why. There is no need to go and try to put down others and try to pass it off as opinion. And adding IMO or some other qualifying BS doesn't make a blatant put down or attack okay, it's still a put down.

 

I have a 5-speed automatic and am more than happy with it.

Mainly got one because of all the stop and go traffic here in Southern California.

I have owned many, many manual transmission and do not miss it . The manual mode is fun on the Z auto.

 

What he said...if you're not the one driving the car, why should you care?

 

i have a 5at and feel that <everytime> including the rush hour, steep up hill, stop and go and driving I made the right choise.

Then shifter is really fun.

 

I never drove a manual car before i got my 6mt Z. I love the 6 speed!!!!!!!!!! Its so fun to shift and floor the car to the redline...wouldn't have it any other way. Very fun to dump the clutch and burn out or attempt to drift. Also i'm 6' 4'' so i don't see why people say they are to tall for a manual. The main reason i decided to get the manual at first was b/c i wanted to go FI and didn't trust the auto tranny to hold up to the added HP/TQ. Now i am very happpy i got the 6mt.

 

I owned an automatic 280 Z for 10 years. Did not feel really sporty. Then I bought a 300 ZX Turbo, MT - Best car I ever had. Now I'm married with two kids. My wife drives a Van and my two cars are a 2001 325i AT and the new addition to the family, a 2004 350Z Roadster, AT. Sports cars are not meant to have AT. It just amazing the feeling I get shifting, sometimes for no reason at all. Driving this car is like feeling single again, at least until I get home!!!

 

If that's how you feel, then why did you get an AT roadster?

(just kidding...I'm sure that was probably a typo on your part).

 

Ditto, Everything he just said.........except mine's a 6spd.....

 

LOL, I find it funny guys would be serious about flamming people with automatics... First off lets get things straight, the 350Z is NOT a exotic sports car. Its a low end sports car, so get over your delusions of this being the greatest sports car in the world.

If someone buys an automatic who cares.... My brother bought a automatic 350ZR, mainly because his wife would not let him get it unless it was an automatic because she does not like manuals. Not to mention you got to be a maskist to buy a manual if you have to live in the big cities and drive the majority of the time in heavy traffic.

I personaly have the 6 speed and love it... Also have a 6 speed on my G35 sedan.. but I live in a area that does not have a lot of traffic, and my office is only 5 mins from my house...